Examples of Gases: Definition, Properties, Types & Uses

Gas is one of the three predominant states of matter, namely Solids, liquid, and gas.

• Gases have mass, but it has no definite shape and no definite volume. 
• Gas, thus, takes the shape of the vessel it is stored in. 
• It is the most abundantly found state of matter. 
• It forms 99 per cent of the atmosphere.
• There are various types of gases that exist around us and serve us in millions of different aspects of our lives. 
• Examples of Gases include Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Helium, etc.
• The gaseous state of matter is highly important in the study of the matter as gases show even minute and significant changes in the state of matter with the change of temperature and pressure.

Key Terms: Gases, Matter, Fluids, Temperature, Troposphere, Pressure, Elemental Gases, Chlorofluorocarbons

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What are Gases?

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Gas is a state of matter that has no definite volume and no specific shape but has a definite mass. 

• Gases have the least intermolecular attraction between their molecules, hence they are very loosely packed. 
• The molecules of gases also have a high velocity which is why gases can flow into a container and take its shape by evenly distributing themselves.
• Gases are highly compressible and can be indefinitely expandable. 
• Gases have no molecular arrangements, consequently, the space between gas molecules keeps increasing and decreasing depending on physical and chemical factors.
• Due to this movement, they possess Kinetic Energy.
• Gases are sometimes also referred to as “fluids” as they can easily flow from one direction to another.

Gaseous State of Matter

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Properties of Gases

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Gases have distinct features which make them different from other states of matter like solid and liquid. The properties of gases are:

• Gases have the least intermolecular distances between.
• Gases are highly compressible. Due to the least intermolecular attraction, they are loosely packed hence the property.
• Gas molecules are at constant random movement and collide with themselves to produce kinetic energy.
• Gases exert equal pressure on the walls of the vessel containing them. 
• Gases have no definite shape or a definite volume.
• Gases have less density when compared to solid and liquid states of matter.
• Gases combine easily and evenly( mostly with each other) to form a homogeneous mixture. 

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Examples of Gases

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Air is the most common example of gases around us. It is in abundance and it surrounds the earth in the form of its atmosphere. The troposphere is the nearest envelope of the atmosphere that sustains human life. It is a mixture of various common gases like oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, etc. 

Examples of a few of these gases are:

• Hydrogen
• Nitrogen
• Oxygen
• Helium
• Neon
• Argon
• Carbon Dioxide
• Carbon Monoxide
• Water Vapour 
• Ozone
• Acetylene
• Propane
• Butane
• Various Chlorofluorocarbons

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Types of Gases

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Gases can be categorized as: 

Elemental Gases

The monatomic noble gases and diatomic homonuclear gases combine to form the category of “elemental gases.” Elemental gases are also called “molecular gases”.

• The monatomic gases are stable at standard temperature and pressure such as noble gases namely helium, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon.
• Diatomic homonuclear gases are such as hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, Chlorine gases. 

Triatomic Gases

The gases whose molecules have three atoms and have an atomicity of three are called triatomic gases. Examples of triatomic gases are carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide, ozone, etc.

Mixed Gases

In nature, gases often occur in the form of mixtures as they flow and combine with each other very easily. These mixtures of gases are simply referred to as “mixed gases” and are Heterogeneous in nature. 

Toxic Gases

The gases which are harmful to us are called toxic gases. Examples of toxic gases are as following hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, (NH₃), phosgene (COCl₂), oxides of nitrogen, Formaldehyde (CH₂O), Arsenic (As), Carbon Monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide ((SO₂), etc.

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Behavior of Gases

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The behavior of gases is governed by four factors: 

• Temperature
• Pressure 
• Volume 
• Quantity 

Also,

• When the temperature of the gas is highly reduced or its pressure is highly increased gas is converted to either liquid or solid.
• With a decrease in quantity, the gas pressure is decreased and with an increase in gas pressure, there is an increase in pressure.
• Low volume and quantity of gas results in low pressure in gas, and;
• Increased volume and quantity of gas gives high pressure. 

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Applications of Gases

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Gases are used in almost every periphery and aspect of our daily lives. Some of its applications are: 

• Oxygen has very important medical uses and both oxygen and acetylene are used in welding. 
• Propane is used as fuel to burn. 
• Butane is used in torches and lighters. 
• Freon and chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) are used as cooling agents in air conditioners and refrigerators. 
• Nitrous Oxide is used as anesthesia. 
• Gases also have industrial and manufacturing units like steel manufacturing, oil refining, fertilizers, and semiconductors. 
• The ozone layer helps protect the earth from direct ultraviolet lights. 

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Things to Remember

• Gases are states of matter with the least intermolecular attraction. 
• Molecules of Gases are loosely packed and have kinetic energy.
• Gases have no definite shape and volume.
• Behaviour of gases depends on different factors like pressure, temperature, volume, and quantity.
• Examples of important gases are oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, helium, hydrogen, argon, neon, etc. 
• Gases can be monatomic, diatomic, homogenous, heterogeneous, pure, mixed, and toxic in nature.
• Ideal gases obey gas laws at all temperatures and pressures and real gases obey gas laws at low pressure and high temperature.